What (am I currently reading)?

I am currently reading Eve Smith’s latest speculative fiction One.    This  is being published by Orenda Books on 20th July 2023. 

Book Blurb   (taken from    https://orendabooks.co.uk/   )

A powerful, prescient, gripping speculative thriller: a woman’s job of enforcing climate-emergency Britain’s one-child policy is compromised when she discovers a personal link to an illegal sibling on the ministry hit-list, leading to a shocking discovery that changes everything…

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One law. One child. Seven million crimes…

A cataclysmic climate emergency has spawned a one-child policy in the UK, ruthlessly enforced by a totalitarian regime. Compulsory abortion of ‘excess’ pregnancies and mandatory contraceptive implants are now the norm, and families must adhere to strict consumption quotas as the world descends into chaos.

Kai is a 25-year-old `baby reaper´, working for the Ministry of Population and Family Planning. If any of her assigned families attempt to exceed their child quota, she ensures they pay the price.

Until, one morning, she discovers that an illegal sibling on her Ministry hit-list is hers. And to protect her parents from severe penalties, she must secretly investigate before anyone else finds out.

Kai’s hunt for her forbidden sister unearths much more than a dark family secret. As she stumbles across a series of heinous crimes perpetrated by the people she trusted most, she makes a catastrophic discovery that could bring down the government … and tear her family apart.

Why (have I chosen to read it)?

Because I have read, and loved, Eve Smith’s two previous novels, both speculative fiction. So when I was offered an ARC of Eve’s newest speculative fiction, I jumped at the chance.  Big thank you to the  lovely people at Orenda Books.

The first book I read by Eve was:  (click on picture for my review)

I gave The Waiting Rooms 5*s

The second was

Off Target was also a 5* read for me.

Will I give One 5*s also ? My review will be up on my website around Publication Day (July 20th)

While (I am reading it)

Having been away quite a bit recently, I’ve been spending time in the garden catching up on weeding and dead-heading etc. In doing so I discovered 5 or 6 caterpillars on this plant and my phone bug/plant identifier tells me they are going to become Swallowtail butterflies (do let me know in Comments below, if you think differently!) .  I’ve only recently discovered the bug/plant etc flick up photo identifier on my phone (probably the last in the world to do so) and absolutely love it. 

All the best,  Emma